On Tuesday morning, a semi truck overturned on Future I-26 westbound. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened at about 7:30 a.m. near the Hill Street exit. Although very few details about this tractor-trailer crash have been released, we do know that a portion of the roadway was closed until about 11:00 a.m. Traffic was backed up through downtown and all the way to West Asheville. Initial reports indicate that the truck driver overcorrected the large truck, causing it to overturn.
Big Rig Overturns in Asheville
The big rig was reportedly hauling 45,000 pounds of dog food at the time of the crash. Cargo was spilled beside the roadway. When the trailer overturned, it took down a light pole. Crews and first responders rushed to the scene, where thankfully, no serious injuries were reported. Officials with the Asheville Police Department called in reinforcements for help with the cleanup. The trailer had to be righted, and the cargo and debris had to be cleaned from the scene. Although no citations were made on the scene, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Motor Carrier Unit was still investigating the crash.
U.S. Truck Crash Statistics
- In 2015, 4,067 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks.
- Truck crash fatalities went up four percent between 2014 and 2015.
- An estimated 116,000 people were injured in truck crashes in 2015.
- In 2015, 74 percent of people killed in crashes involving large trucks were occupants of other vehicles.
- 78 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks happened on weekdays.
Asheville Truck Accident Lawyer
Since commercial trucking vehicles are so much larger and heavier than traditional passenger occupant vehicles, crashes involving big rigs often require additional investigative measures. Truck drivers and trucking companies have additional safety regulations to follow to ensure safe travel on U.S. roadways. After a crash, it’s necessary to determine if drivers or trucking companies were in violation of any federal or state safety regulations during or prior to the wreck.
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in an accident involving a semi truck, tractor-trailer, big rig or any kind of commercial trucking vehicle in or around the Asheville area, contact the skilled and proven team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 888-773-8388 for a free case consultation today.